The first launch of the new mega-rocket that NASA intends to send to the moon, scheduled for Tuesday, may be postponed due to a storm, writes Agerpres.

After two failed attempts a few weeks ago due to technical problems, a new attempt on Tuesday to launch the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket as part of the Artemis 1 mission is now threatened by a storm that is about to form in the Caribbean Sea.

“Tropical Depression No. 9” does not yet have an official name and is currently located south of the Dominican Republic. But in the coming days, it will turn into a hurricane and rise across the Gulf of Mexico to Florida, where the Kennedy Space Center is located, from where this rocket will be launched.

“Plan A is to stay focused and launch on September 27,” Kennedy Space Center official Mike Bolger said Friday.

“But if we have to go to plan B, it will take us several days to change our current configuration (…) and put the missile under the protection of its assembly hangar,” he added.

NASA specialists are closely monitoring all weather forecasts these days.

The SLS rocket, painted in white and orange, can withstand winds of up to 137 km/h on the launch pad.

Another delay would be a severe blow to NASA

If it needs to be placed in a hangar, the current launch window of October 4th will be skipped. The next release window is scheduled for October 17-31 with the possibility of release almost every day except for October 24, 25, 26 and 28.

Another delay would be a blow to NASA, which recently had to overcome two more technical problems.

In early September, the launch of the SLS rocket was canceled at the last minute due to a leak of liquid hydrogen during the operation to fill its tanks with this type of fuel. The faulty gasket has since been replaced, and NASA conducted a ground test this week to verify the repair.

In addition, the US Space Force, responsible for public safety, agreed to extend the certification period for the batteries included in the rocket’s emergency self-destruct system. This waiver had to be granted so that the SLS rocket could lift off on Tuesday or the fallback date of October 2nd.

READ ALSO: Artemis 1 program’s SLS rocket likely to be launched on September 27. Static tests gave good results

On Tuesday, the launch window will open at 11:37 a.m. local time and will remain open for 70 minutes. If SLS launches on Tuesday, the Artemis 1 mission will last 39 days until the Orion capsule docks in the Pacific Ocean on November 5.

The Artemis 1 mission, which will not carry astronauts into space, aims to test whether Orion, a capsule atop a rocket, is safe enough to carry a human crew to the moon in the future.

READ ALSO: Why NASA’s Attempt to Launch the SLS Rocket Is a Colossal Waste of Money or an Audacious Space Program That Needs Patience?